Mazda CX-9 wins North American Truck of the Year By ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net Last year, it was the Chevy Silverado.  This year, it was not a pickup truck that won, but a seven passenger SUV.  The winner of the North American Truck of the Year for 2008 was the Mazda CX-9.  The announcement and award were presented at the January auto show in Detroit.

The CX-9 has won glowing reviews from almost every corner, but this win was icing on the cake.  The sporty drive is evident, but the SUV practicality is strong.  This year's model has a high level of performance with a new 3.7 liter V6 engine.  That has resulted in 10 more horsepower than last year and 21 more lb-ft of torque.   The engine is a die-cast aluminum block with aluminum cylinder heads to reduce weight.  The valvetrain consists of dual overhead camshafts and variable intake valve timing.  Front wheel drive is standard in the CX-09.  All Wheel Drive is an option.  The All Wheel Drive is the same system used in the MazdaSpeed 6.

A lot of today's SUV's have a utilitarian appearance.  Not so with the CX-9.  It looks almost sophisticated with a smooth and flowing silhouette.  The wheels and fenders are bold and muscular.  The windshield is steeply angled.  The front grille bar gives a distinctive look.  It has the look of craftsmanship.

This is a true Mazda that encompasses the company's trademark "Soul of a Sports Car."  The CX-9 is a great option for a driving enthusiast that has to trade in a two seat roadster for a family-style vehicle.  The six speed automatic transmission with Sport Shift allows the sacrifice to be lessened.  The three rows of seats, offering seven passenger seating, provides plenty of room for the family.   The second and third row seats fold flat to allow additional storage if necessary.  Entry to the third row is easy, with the second row seat folded up. 

The interior is neatly organized, included the instrument panel, the doors, and the center panels.  The attention to detail is evident throughout the vehicle, from the delicate stitching in the seats to the door grips.  The CX-9 is targeted more to young couples and modern families, although the appeal is to drivers across the spectrum.  Those couples who have grown children will also benefit from the flexibility of the CX-9 to meet their active lifestyle and high-intensity leisure activities.

The judges on the North American Car & Truck panel had quite a bit of positive remarks concerning the new CX-9.  In fact, it received more votes than any other car or truck in the array of evaluated vehicles.  "The CX-9 mixes the elusive combination of fun-to-drive, style, and utility better than any other SUV of any size on the market," commented Lindsay Brooke.  "It offers space and comfort, precise driving, passenger and cargo flexibility, brisk, if a bit redundant styling," said Matt Nauman.   "Mazda's emphasis on Zoom-Zoom spirit make it more fun to drive," mentioned by Tony Swan.